Rogue swine problem in Texas (no, this isn't about politicians)

(Bloomberg) Even before the fastest highway in the U.S. opened, collisions began. Feral hogs were on the move.

Police report at least four such wrecks on the 85 mile (137 kilometer) per hour stretch since traffic began flowing Oct. 24. Texas A&M University professor Billy Higginbotham offered a sympathetic ear when roadway managers called him weeks earlier about the pigs, which can top 400 pounds (180 kilograms).

“They said, ‘We’ve already hit seven or eight pigs at a maximum speed of 45 mph, so what’s going to happen when people are driving 80 or 85,’” said Higginbotham, who has studied feral hogs for 25 years. Workers were testing the $1.3 billion part of State Highway 130, an Austin bypass for Dallas-San Antonio traffic, before opening it when the accidents happened.

The threat posed by high-speed wrecks is just the latest wrinkle in a losing battle with the animals, first brought to the region by European colonists. Last year, state lawmakers authorized hunting wild pigs from helicopters. Caldwell County, which the road crosses, pays a $2-a-tail bounty. Still, the Texas feral hog population has swelled to about 2.5 million and can grow 20 percent a year. That offers no comfort to drivers. .................(more)

1. This is a serious problem in South Texas

also, now, for several years. The hogs tear up gardens, pasture, and require a good shot with a rifle to kill them. Then you have to haul the huge carcass off. Hitting them on the highway will tear a vehicle up and get someone killed. I'm fine with the latest easing of hunting rules to thin them out.

3. THIS is the reason, which was in the OP:

Last year, state lawmakers authorized hunting wild pigs from helicopters. Caldwell County, which the road crosses, pays a $2-a-tail bounty.
Still, the Texas feral hog population has swelled to about 2.5 million and can grow 20 percent a year.

To look at it another way...we have deer hunting season in most states, I do believe.
The deer that stepped out in front of my car and froze did so in hunting season.
The elk that come down from the hills in Wenatchee and cross a 4 lane highway to reach the river on the other side
get hit right and left by vehicles, but still on they come, and there is elk hunting season.
Last week a deer was hit by a car on the street below my house. in hunting season. And we live IN town.

More animals than hunters, to be brief.
And hunters can't always be where the animals are. or vice-versa.

4. There is yet aother layer to that problem...

In Arkansas and elsewhere, some folks are making a hunting business out of the wild hog fiasco and so they are helping to keep a fair number of them around.

Wild hogs are and have been a problem in the western states for some time, even as far north as Idaho and possibly Montana.

Wild hog hunt opportunists who wish have their own guide and hunt businesses are not always helpful as they go about it in an uncontrolled environment that ends up causing them to spread more than they might help to control them. Google it and see just how big that little cottage industry is growing.

6. There was a bit of

discussion about that on The Wildlife News blog a couple weeks ago and that was one of the points I was unaware of until someone brought it up. But I did see the video of the packs on that stretch highway where the speed limit just got cracked up to full cream ahead. Wouldn't want to encounter that at high speed.

I've seen a few in the wild in AZ but not in Idaho yet though I have heard of them becoming an issue. I think there was a post about them at IDF&G web site. Nasty things with a bad attitude. There's also some guy in Texas who has designed body armor for pit bulls... takes them out to help hunt the hogs.

10. Body Armor for pit bulls?

He needs to get some of those old time boar hounds..from what I have read bloodhounds and similar style/size dogs were used for boar hunting.
Still, would be interesting to see an armored bulldog type.

11. Well

interestingly when I went to look for the web site I had seen before, it's not there any more and I did find an article about some guys in Kerrville or Tyler who were charged with animal cruelty for caging a hog and letting armored pit bulls at it.

Then I found this dog rescue page where some were discussing the armor and there are a couple pictures but not the Kevlar kind that I saw on the disappeared web site

12. Here it is...

Unfortunately these shitbags decided to go for wolves in Montana with their dogs... there's a picture at the bottom of the page. there's also a bunch of shitbagger swill links all along the side of the text.

13. Not everyone in Texas owns a firearm big

enough to take down a 300-400 lb hog. I suspect at least a medium caliber (deer) rifle would be needed. Plus, those animals are dangerous if you are on foot. You better know what you are doing. A mildly wounded feral hog (especially with tusks) can take down an inexperienced hunter. They have tough hides and very hard skulls.

Also, alot of adults that used to hunt as kids don't any more. There are fewer opportunities for access to private land to hunt on, and it can get expensive. Unlike some other states, unless there is a special measure like this one, we cannot hunt public lands. So fewer people invest in hunting equipment and firearms.